Safety ground device



June 30, 1970 R. F. REEL SAFETY GROUND DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1968 INVENTOR Richard F. Reel BY /4 W1 Mm ATTORNEYS June 30, 1970 R. F. REEL 3,518,607

SAFETY GROUND DEVICE Filed April 12, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A main body of electrical insulating material has a magnetic attaching means pivotally secured thereto and urged in one direction by a first spring. A handle means is pivotally connected to the body means and urged in another direction by a second spring and is insulated from the attaching means. An electrical connection means is carried by the end of the handle means for connection to a ground cable. The lower end of the electrical connection means is beveled to fit in a welding groove defined by adjacent workpieces to make good electrical contact, and the position of the connection means relative to the handle means is adjustable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a device to be attached to workpieces such as pipes to be welded together and provide a connection to a ground cable which in turn is connected to associated welding equipment.

In the past, when carrying out electric arc welding with two adjacent pipe sections, it has been a common practice to clean a small section of the pipes outer surface and then welding a stub-shaped projection thereto, this projection being connected to a ground cable by clamps or the like. This procedure is undesirable since the projection must subsequently be removed or remains on the surface of the pipe. Such an arrangement is time consuming and costly.

In an effort to overcome the objections to the aforementioned procedure, constructions have been designed as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,013,241 whereby the ground connection can be attached and removed from an associated pipe. The construction as shown in this patent is relatively complicated and difficult to assemble and disassemble.

It has also been a common practice to employ a narrow strip of conductive material which is adapted to rest on the pipe. These strips of material are heavy and difficult to handle. Additionally, this type of arrangement is hazardous since a person can receive a shock when handling the device if his hands and feet are wet.

The use of this latter arrangement has resulted in unsatisfactory results since arcing often takes place, and these portions of the pipe where arcing has taken place must of necessity either be carefully patched or completely cut out of the pipeline. This of course is a very expensive procedure when necessary.

In some cases, the ground devices have burned completely through the pipe material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a self-contained unit which can be readily attached and detached from a pipe or the like, and completely eliminates the necessity of welding on a separate projection or the like.

The apparatus is relatively simple in construction and of lightweight construction so that it can be easily managed in the field. The portions of the apparatus which are touched by a person handling the device are formed of insulating material, and accordingly, there is no possibility of a person being shocked whenusing the structure of the present invention.

The device includes a swingably mounted magnetic attaching means which is resiliently biased in one direction. The handle portion of the device which carries the electrical connection means is also swingably carried by the body means thereof and is resiliently urged in one direction. The resilient means associated with these components ensures that the electrical connection means will be urged into good electrical contact with the adjacent workpiece at all times.

Furthermore, the resilient biasing means enables the device to readily accommodate pipes of varying diameter, from very small pipes up to very large size pipes.

Certain portions of the device are insulated from one another so as to reduce the possibility to arcing to the workpiece or shocking personnel employing the device.

Electrical connection means of the present invention fits down in the welding groove so that arcing can only take place into the welding groove where it will not damage the workpieces. However, since the electrical connection means is resiliently biased into engagement with the workpieces at all times, the possibility of arcing is substantially eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the device of the present invention mounted on a pair of adjacent pipe sections;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view illustrating the device mounted in a different orientation With respect to a pair of adjacent pipe sections;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the safety ground device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a pair of pipe sections 10 and 12 are indicated in FIG. 1, these pipe sections being disposed adjacent one another to be welded together. As seen particularly in FIG. 6, the adajacent ends of pipe sections 10 and 12 are beveled as indicated by reference numerals 14 and 16 respectively to cooperatively define a generally V-shaped welding groove as is conventional in the art.

As seen in FIG. 1, the safety ground device of the present invention indicated generally by reference numeral 20 is so oriented that the longitudinal axis thereof extends circumferentially of the pipes. On the other hand, in the position shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal axis of the device 20 is disposed generally longitudinally of the pipes. Either of these orientations of the device with respect to the pipes may be readily accomplished as desired in accordance with the particular application.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the device includes a body means indicated generally by reference numeral 30 formed of suitable electrical insulating material such as wood, plastic or the like and including a first portion 32 and a second portion 34 extending at an angle to the portion 32.. Ihe portion 32 defines a gripping portion which can be manually gripped for manipulating the device in use.

A magnetic means indicated generally by reference numeral 40 includes a pair of magnetic pole pieces 42 and 44 carried by a central portion 46. Portion 46 includes an upwardly extending part 48 of reduced dimension which fits within a slot 50 formed in the central portion of the undersurface of the body means.

A pair of straps and 62 formed of metal or the like are disposed adjacent opposite side surfaces of the body means. A first bolt 64 extends through aligned holes formed in straps 60 and 62 and the body means and has a nut 66 threaded on the outer end thereof. A second bolt 68 extends through aligned holes formed in straps 60 and 62 as well as the body means and has a nut 70 threaded on the outer end thereof.

Still another bolt 74 extends through aligned holes formed in straps 60 and 62 and the body means, this bolt also extending through the upper portion of the slot 50 in the body means. A nut 76 is threaded on the outer end of bolt 74. Bolt 74 also extends through an aligned hole formed in the upper portion of the part 48 of the magnetic means whereby the magnetic means is swingably or pivotally interconnected with the body means for movement with respect thereto.

A spring 80 extends about the upper portion 48 of the magnetic means. One end of the spring is connected to the bolt 68 adjacent the head thereof, and the opposite end 84 of the spring fits over the outer threaded end of the bolt. It is apparent that the spring 80 normally biases the magnetic means in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3. The end 84 of the spring can be removed from the associated end of the bolt so as to relieve the biasing force on the magnetic means when the device is used with a relatively large pipe or possibly on a flat workpiece.

A generally U-shaped member includes depending leg portions 92 and 94 which fit against opposite faces of the body means. A bolt 96 extends through aligned holes formed in the body means and leg portions 92 and 94 and has a nut 98 threaded on the outer end thereof. Member 90 is suitably rigidly secured as by welding to an elongated arcuate member 100. The opposite end 102 of member is in turn rigidly secured as by welding to another U-shaped member 104 including leg portions 106 and 108 Which are disposed adjacent opposite faces of the body means. A bolt 114 extends through aligned holes provided in the body means and leg portions 106 and 108, and a nut 116 is threaded on the outer end of the bolt.

A handle means indicated generally by reference numeral 120 is of generally channel-shaped cross sectional configuration opening in a downward direction. A pair of ears 122 are defined at opposite sides of tse handle portion, and a pin member supported by elongated memher 100 fits through suitable holes provided in the ears 120 of the handle portion whereby the handle portion is swingably or pivotally supported by elongated member 100 which is attached to the body means.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer end of the handle means is provided with an insulating hand grip portion 128 which is generally cylindrical and which may be formed of a suitable material such as rubber or the like.

As seen particularly in FIG. 3, a coil compression spring 130 has one end thereof seated in a cup-shaped portion 132 secured to the elongated member 100. The opposite end of the spring engages a member 134 secured to the undersurface of the handle means. In this means, the coil spring is retained in the operative position illustrated and normally biases the handle means in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3.

A member includes a first portion 142 rigidly attached as by welding to the upper surface of the handle means. Member 140 includes an angularly downwardly extending portion 144 which in turn joins with a portion 146 having a threaded hole formed therethrough for receiving a threaded adjustable contact member 150.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, the lower end 152 of the adjustable contact member is beveled to fit within the tapered welding groove and to provide a good electrical contact therewith. It is apparent that due to the threaded interconnection between the main part of contact member 150 and the hole provided in portion 146. the contact member may be adjusted particularly so as to orient the beveled edge thereof to fit within a groove in the relation shown in FIG. 1, or at right angles to such orientation as seen in FIG. 2.

A lock nut is threaded on the contact member 150 below the portion 146, and another nut 162 is threaded on the contact member above portion 146.

A flat portion of an electrical connector 164 rests upon the upper surface of nut 162. This electrical connector 164 is connected with the end of a ground cable 166 as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring again to FIG. 6, a washer 168 is disposed above the fiat portion of the connector 164, and a nut 170 is threaded on the contact member above the washer. It is apparent that the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 permits adjustment of the contact member with respect to the portion 146, and further permits an electrical connector to be effectively interconnected with this electrical connection means of the present invention.

It is apparent as seen in FIG. 3 that the handle means and the magnetic means are normally biased by the associated spring so that the electrical connection means including the contact member 150 and the magnetic means are normally biased toward one another. This biasing means ensures that the device will accommodate pipes of varying diameter and that the contact member 150 will be urged at all times into contact with the workpieces to prevent arcing.

If it is desired to use the device with a pipe of still larger diameter or on a flat workpiece, the end 84 of spring 80 may be removed from the associated end of the bolt 68, whereupon the biasing effect on the magnetic means is relieved, and the magnetic means can swing into desired relationship with respect to the handle means.

It should be noted that the magnetic means is well insulated from the handle means, and that when a person grips the portion 32 of the body means and the portion 128 of the handle means, he is well insulated from all of the electrically conductive components of the apparatus.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A safety ground device, comprising:

(a) an elongate body means made from insulating material;

(b) magnet means movably carried by said body means for holding said body means to a workpiece;

(c) handle means movably carried by said body means and including an insulated portion and a conducting portion, movement of said magnet and said handle accommodating said safety ground device for use with various size and shape workpieces;

(d) means biasing said conducting portion in a first direction into electrical contact with a workpiece on which said safety ground device is to be used; and

(e) electrical connection means carried by said handle means for connection to a ground cable.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means is swingably carried by said body means, and including resilient means for biasing said magnetic means in one direction.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means is swingably carried by said body means, and ineluding resilient means normally biasing said handle means in one direction.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said magnetic means and said handle means is insulated from one another and swingably carried by said body means, and resilient means normally biasing said magnetic means and said handle means in diiferent directions so that the magnetic means and the electrical connection means are normally biased toward one another.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical connection means includes a contact member adjustably mounted with respect to said handle means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the lower end of said electrical connection means is beveled to fit within a welding groove.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said body means includes a gripping portion for readily handling the body means.

-8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said magnetic means is pivotally carried by said body means, and

including spring means carried by said body means and portion thereof, said handle means being pivotally carried by said body means, and spring means engaging said handle means for normally biasing the handle means in one direction.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical connection means is carried by an end portion of said handle means, said electrical connection means including a contact member adjustably supported by said handle means, means for locking the contact member in adjusted position, the lower end of said contact member being beveled to fit within a welding groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,429,526 10/ 1947 Savon.

2,437,633 3/1948 Abram.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,051,180 9/1953 France.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.Rv 339l08 

